Signaling system.



M. L. iOHNSON.

SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED 050.4. 1915.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

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' M. L. JOHNSON.

SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLICATION man no.4. 1915.

Pdtented Mar. 6, 1917.

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M. L. JOHNSON.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION map 05c.'4. 1915.

Patented Mar. 6, .1917.

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M. L. l0HNSON-.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED no.4. 1915.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

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' clerks.

MORTON L. JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

Application filed December 4, 1915. Serial No. 64,982.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that- I, MORTON L. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and .exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speclfication.

My invention relates to signaling systems and is in its preferred embodiment of particular utility for instance in connection with a system wherein a central information bureau dispenses information to operato-rs at various substations.

The particular form of the invention which is hereinafter set forth in detail is designed for use in a department store, for

instance, where an extensive credit system A central operator is providedprevails. with a complete card or other index system upon which the credit ratings of all of the customers of the concern are given. This operator has a telephone switchboard to which any number of clerks may set themselves into communication with this operator. The switching facilities are preferably more or less automatic so that an idle operatcr of the plurality may be obtained. The operator also has facilities for getting into communication with any one of the The clerks at their talking instruments also have facilities wherein a card may be inserted, which card must be stamped or perforated through instrumentalities operable by the central static-n operator before Figure 1 is a schematic arrangement merely to illustrate the general application, and I Figs. 2 2 and 2 represent together a complete system when these figures are placed end to end.

In explaining my invention in detail,'I will refer firstly to Fig. 1 in order to give a general idea of what the system is designed to accomplish, Fig. 1 being merely schematic and not setting forth in detail the circuit arrangements, which circuit arrangements fora unit are set forth clearly in Figs. 2 2 and 2 This Fig. 1 shows a. central station to which a plurality of lines lead, only three which magnets are controlled from a central station, and likewise have their circuits controlled by contacts such as the contacts 16 and 17. These contacts 16 and 17 are closed when a card is inserted in a holder as will appear hereinafter, whereupon the magnet may be energized to perforate or otherwise stamp the card to indicate to the clerk that the central operator has found the creditrating of the purchaser satisfactorv. The clerk at every one of the stations 4, 5 and 6, by operating the corresponding dial may bring the switch arm 18 of the automatic switch into a given contact level, for instance, the level indicated at A, or into the other level indicated at ,B, or the third level indicated at C, whereupon suitable automatic appliances, not necessary to be described, will select any operators line such as the line 19, or 20 or 21. The operators at the central station are divided into as many groups as may be necessary. In the drawing I have shown the operators as divided into three groups. The operators of the first group for instance, have a filing cabinet 22, the operators of the second group a filing cabinet 23, and the operators of the third group a filing cabinet 24. These filing cabinets together hold all of the cards relating to the business which the central station operators are supposed to have in their charge. Filing cabinet 22 for instance may have all of the customers accounts from A to H, filing cabinet 23 may have all of the customers accounts from I to P, and filing cabinet 24c may have all of the accounts from Q, to Z. There are then as many operators for each section, such as the section 22 as may be required. I haveshown three operators sets indicated by the head receivers 25, 26 and 27 to indicate three operators, and automatically the switch arm 18 selects an idle operator as soon as the right level has been reached by the operation of the dial 7, for instance.

Each operator has a cord circuit such as the cord circuit 28 by means of which' through the agency of jacks 29 connection may be established with the clerks through lines such as 30 and 31,.which lines terminate in automatic switches32 as will readily appear. Each cord circuit will then have an operating dial 33 controlled by the push button 34, and such cord circuit also has a push button 35 to ring the telephone of the clerk, and also has a push button 36 which operates the magnet 13, for instance, to stamp the card. In case the operator 25, for instance, can give the information when the clerk first makes the connection, then of course the cord circuit 28 is not required, but in this case the operator has a push button 37 to ring back the clerk while the line remains in connection if needed, and

also has a push button 38 which controlsthe magnet 13 to do the stampin'g.

From this general description it will be readily apparent what the system is designed to do. The clerk at station 4, for instance, operates her dial to reach the level at the section A provided she wants to find out the credit rating of a customer between the letters'A to H. The switch automatically selects an idle operator and the clerk asks the operator what the credit rating is. At the same time the clerk inserts a card into the holder, thereby closing the contacts 16 and 17. If the operator can immediately find the credit rating she will press the button 38 which operates the magnet 13 to stamp the card. The card must be properly stamped, otherwise the shipping department will not send out the goods. If the credit rating is unsatisfactory, the operator so notifies the clerk over the telephone, calling the clerk back to the telephone by means of the push buttons 37 or 35, if necessary. If it takes some time on the part of the operator 25 to get the information she tells the clerk tohang up, whereupon the operator when she has the information uses the cord circuit 28 and either notifies the clerk that the credit rating is unsatisfactory, or stamps the card which has been inserted. Of course only single lines are indicated in thls diagrammatic view, no attempt being clerks station is shown at D and is united by means of line conductors 39 and 40 with the central station. The equipment at the station D is of course similar to the three clerks station-s connected to the lines 1, 2

and 3 of Fig. 1. This clerks station D has the ordinary telephone equipment including the transmitter 41, receiver 42, bell 43, and the dial 7, which is similar to'the ordinary form of automatic operating dial as readily understood. The further equipment at this station includes two contacts 16 and 17, a cam 4t for controlling these contacts, and a card holder between which and the cam the shipping card is to be inserted. A stamping lever 46 is controlled by the magnet 13 and when the card is inserted and the contacts 16 and 17 closedan' impulse over the line wire 40 can actuate the magnet 13 over the ground as readily apparent to stamp the card. As will be apparent later, the closure of the contacts 16 and 17 is used to indicate to the central operator that the stamping signal has been properly sent, through the agency of a lamp 96 or 107 illuminated at the central station under such conditions. The line wires 39 and +20 are continued by means of a cut-ofi relay 47, which cut off relay is included in series with I a battery 18 in a grounded circuit extending calls back a clerk with one of the cord cir- 'cuits provided for this purpose at the central station. The line conductors 39 and 40 at the central station are likewise connected to wiper contacts 50 and 51. Wiper contacts 49, 50 and 51 are to be engaged by the wipers 52, 53 and 51 of an automatic switch, thus diagrammatically indicated. The conductors 39 and 10 are, when the line switching relay 55 is actuated, connected through to their conductive extensions 39 and 40", terminating in wipers 56 and 57 of an automatic switch 10 designed to connect the clerk with an idle operator of any desired group in accordance with the actuations of said automatic switch 10. Any suitable system or means whereby the automatic switch 10 is controlled through the dial 7 may be employed, the equipment here shown being standard and including the private relay 59, the vertical magnet 60, the rotary magnet 61, private control relay (32, the slow relay 63, the double wound rel: y 61, the release magnet- 65, and the oflnormal switch 66. The

line and slow relaysrespond in the usual manner to the breaking of the circuit at the clerks calling device by making and break-- ing the circuit through the private control relay and the vertical magnet. Just as the first vertical step of the shaft is. completed, the off normal switch is closed completing a circuit from earth through the springs of the slow relay, the rotary magnet contacts,

011' normal springs, and through the make contact of the private relay 59 and the private relay winding to the battery 67. This constitutes a locking circuit for the private relay which causes it to retain its armature after the vertical movements of the shaft have been completed, and private control relay 62 has released its armature. This locking circuit is opened each time the armature of the rotary magnet 61 is attracted during the rotary movementof the wipers so that as soon as the-private wiper rests on an idle bank contact, the private relay releases its armature. The circuit through the rotary magnet 61 is closed as soon as the private control relay armature dropsback after'the completion of the vertical steps The circuit which energizes the rotary magnet is practically the same which locks the private magnet. The automatic switch 58, of course, establishes contact by means of its wipers 68, 56 and 57 with the wiper contacts 69, 70

'and 71 to thus continue the line" conductors 39 and 40 to conductors 39 and 40 which are normally continuous through the stamping key 38 and the ringing key 37, extending thence to the jack contacts 72 and 73 respecground, then right hand winding of relay 64, back contact and lower switch of relay 55, conductor 40*, lower contacts of relay 47, conductor 40, lower contacts of dial 7, switch hook and its contact, receiver 42, transmitter 41, winding, conductor 39, upper normal contacts of relay 47, conductor 39, intermediate switch and back contact of relay 55, left hand winding of relay 64 to grounded battery. Energized relay 64 then through its upper contacts closes a circuitthrough sluggish relay 63. -During operation of dial 7 relay 64 operates while slow acting relay 63 remains energized. Tmpulses are now transmitted through vertical magnet to raise the wipers 56, 57 and 68 of switch 10 to the proper level. lircuit for vertical magnet 60 is traeeable from grounded battery, winding of magnet 60, winding of sluggish relay 62 (this sluggish relay 62 remains energized while impulses are being transmitted) make contact of lower switch of relay 63, upper sets of normal make contacts of relay 55, back contact of relay 64, to ground. Upon completion of impulses, circuit for relay 62 and magnet 60 is opened. A circuit. is now completed through the rotary magnet 61 traceable from grounded battery winding of the magnet 61, lower set of normal break contacts of magnet 61, back contact and switch of sluggish relay 62, make contact and switch of relay 59, lower set of off normal contacts of switch 66 v (contacts of switch 66 being closed upon the operation of shaft of switch 10 with the first impulse) upper normal contacts of .relay 61, upper switch and make contact of relay 63, to ground.

Circuit for r'elay 59 is traceable from grounded battery winding, make contact and switch of relay 59, lower contacts of ofl' normal switch 66, upper contacts of magnet 61, upper contacts of relay 63, relay having been energized through the make contacts of sluggish relay 62. Rotary mag- V net 61' moves the wipers into engagement with bank contacts69, 7O and.71, until private wiper 68 engages an ungrounded contact 69, whereupon circuit from relay "59 is opened, the other circuit for relay 59 previously traced being opened when rotary magnet 61 is operated through the break-- ing of the upperset of contacts on magnet 61. When private wiper 68 engages an ungrounded contact 69, circuit for rotary magnet v61 is opened through release of relay 59 and opening of make contact of relay 59.

for relay 55 traceable from grounded battery, winding of relay 55, switch and normal contact of relay 59, lower contacts of off normal 'switch 66, upper contacts of rotary magnet 61, upper switch and make contact of rela 63, to ground. A circuit is nowcompleted or relay 82 traceable from ground- 7 ed battery, .upper winding of relay 82, contacts of ringing key-37 andstamping key 38, conductor 39, contact 70, --wip'er 56, conductor 39*,- intermediate switch and make contacts of relay 55, conductor 39*, upper contacts of relay 48, conductor 39, transmitter,

When private wiper 68 engages an un-, v grounded contact 69 a circuit is completed receiver, switch hook, dial contacts of station D, conductor 40, lower contacts of relay 48, conductor 40, lower switch and make contact of relay 55, conductor 40, wiper 57, bank contact 71, conductor 46", contacts of stamping key 38 and ringing key '37, lower winding of relay 82, to ground. Relay 82 completes a circuit for relay 87 thro'ughits left hand contacts, and relay 87 maintains circuit for relay 55 when circuit is broken at relay 63. When party at station D places receiver upon switch hook, circuit for relay 82 is opened, which releases relay 87, opening circuit for relay 55, which closes circuit should the operator have the plug 74' withdrawnfrom the jack. As stated, however, the plug is normally in the jack so that when connection is established with this particular line the operators talking set 25 is available for use to converse .With the clerk. The coils '7 8 are interposed between the battery 79 and the ground to furnish current for talking when connection :is finally established. v

The operator at; the central station has the cord circuit 28 for initiating on her own account connection with any clerk, and

this cord circuit is not provided with an operators set, but may use the operators set 25 when the key 80 is actuated. A meter 81 may be used if so desired, it not having anything to do with this invention, therefore not being described in detail; I The connection of the wipers '56 and 57 with the wiper contacts 70 and 71 of course causesan energization of the line relay 82 to sup ply current to the line, and this of course can actuate the meter as readily apparent. It is not thought necessary to describe the further various automatic features of theseinterconnecting features as they are readily apparent to those skilled in the art. However, in connection With the conductors39 and 40, with which the clerk finally establishes connection to reach an idle operator I have provided the switching keys 37 and 38. The switching key 37 serves as a ringing key to send ringing current from the generator 83- back to the clerks telephone should the clerk be temporarily aWay'fro-m the telephone while awaiting the stamping operation. This switching key 37 is the ordinary make and break key and it is thought requires no further description. In addition to its ringing function, however, it controls a spring 84, which spring 006perates with the spring 85 so that when. the ringing key is depressed, a ground is placed upon the conductor 86 to thereby energize the slow relay 87 and ground the private conductor 88 to maintain energization of the relay 55, to prevent the release of switch 58. Whenever the plug 74 is withdrawn and the conductor 77 is grounded,

this energizes the relay 87 to thereby ground the conductor 88 so that the particular operators line tests busy at the contact 69. The stamping key 38 controls the connection of a battery 89 to the circuit to actuate the magnet 13, and this battery 89 preferably has doublethe voltage of the ordinary batteries used for interconnection and talking purposes. Thus when this switching key 38- is actuated springs 90 and 91 are closed so that a ground is again established in connection with. the conductor 88 to hold the line switching relay 55 in its energized condition. The actuation of the stamping key 38, this being of the ordinary double break variety, connects the battery 89 into a circuit which extends from the ground, through battery 89, conductor 92, relay 93, conductor 94, springs of the key 38, conductor 40, conductor 40", conductor 40 conductor 40, conductor 95, contacts 16 and 17 (being of course assumed that the card is in position) magnet 13, to ground. This actuates the magnet 13 to stamp the card indicating that the credit rating of the customer is satisfactory. At the same time the actuation of the relay 93 establishes a circuit through thelamp 96, as readily apparent,to indicate that a stamping operation has taken place. Of course, if there is no card inserted then the contacts 16 and 17 are not closed and therefore relay 93 is not operated and gives no current so that the lamp 96 under those conditions is not energized. At the same time the ringing generator 83 is connected across the conductors 39 and 40. to ring to bell 43,, to call the clerks attention to the fact that the stamping operation has been completed.

Now in case the operator is not in a position to give the clerk the information im-- mediately, then she advises the clerk to hang up her receiver, thus restoring the connections, and then when the operator has theinformation she uses a cord circuit 28 to call back the clerk by the use of'an automatic switch 32 indicated by-the wipers 52, 53 and 54, which when properly actuated are used under those conditions to establish contact with the wiper contacts 49, 50 and 51.. Now whenever such contact is established, then the side switch 97 when it is moved to its last orthird position 98 grounds the private conductor 99 to thus establish a circuit for the cut off relay 47 t to disconnect the line wires 39 and 40 from the line wires 39 and 40. The cord circuit 28 has the relay 100 to provide it with current as readily apparent, and at the same time controls the circuit through the lamp 101, which lamp is illuminated when the cord circuit 28 is in use and clerks telephone I in talking position. The operators equipment 25 serves for the cord circuit 28 upon actuation of the key 80. The cord circuit 28 has the customary ringing key 35 supplying current from the generator 103. There is also provided a stamping key 36 which furnishes current from the double voltage battery 105 over the cord conductor 106 which represents the same side of the line, for instance, as the conductor 40, thus to actuate the magnet 13. At the same time ringing current is supplied to both sides of the line from the generator 103. And at the same time a lamp 107 is actuated to indicate that the stamping has taken place, it being understood of course that the relay 108 will not operate unless the switch contacts 16 and 17 are closed. T

In connection with the cord circuit 28 which has the plug 109 there is also provided a switching key 34 which, is actuated when the calling dial 33 is to be operated to call a given clerk. The plug 109' of course is inserted into any of the vacant jacks 29, the contact. 113 serving to ground the thimbles 114 of the jacks in the customary way. This grounding of the thimble establishes a circuit through the relay 115 to thereby throw ground upon the conductor;

116, thus energizing the lam 117 to indi-. cate through the multiple jaclis of that line that the line is in use. The automatic switch indicated at 32 and comprising substantially the entire equipment between the jack 29 and the wiper contacts 52, 53 and 54 may be of the customary design having the vertical magnet 118, rotary magnet 119, side switches 97, 120, 121, and 122. There is also the slow relay 123 which responds quickly but releases slowly and also the private magnet 124 operable in the customary way. There is also the release magnet 125 and the ofl normal switch 126, likewise the line operating relay 127, and the slow relay 128.

It is not thought necessary to describe this automatic circuit in detail as any suitable automatic circuit by which through the actuation of the dial 33 the wiper contacts 52, 53 and 54 can be actuated to select a desired line. The relay 123 operates the side switches on its return movement as readily understood.

The selector switch 10 is similar to that shown and described in pages 60, 62, 63 and 6st in book on Automatic Telephony by fied by omission of relays B. B. R., W. C. O.

R, R. R, and R. C. O. R.

It will be understood of course that the clerks telephones and selector switches 10, 11 and 12 are available for private branch exchange work also. i

From what has been described it is thought the operation of the system will be readily understood. Having however thus described one form which my invention may take, what I claim as new and desire to secure-by Letters Patent is:

1. system of the character described comprislng a central stationand substations, means controlled from the substation for establishing intercommunication between said central station and said substations, a card receiver at the various substations, means controlled at the central station and the cooperating substation to place an inclication upon sald card, and automatic means controlled at the central station to select for lntercommunication any desired substation, said last aforesaid means having means to control the placing of an indication upon said card.

'2. A system of the character described comprising a central station and substations,

automatic means controlled from the substation for establishing intercommunication becomprising a central station and substations,

a plurality of operators sets at said central station, means controlled from each substation for establishing intercommunication between said substation and an idle operators position, a card receiver at the various substations, means controlled at the central station and the cooperatlng substation to place an indication upon a card inserted in said receiver, and automatic means controlled at the central station to select. an idle operator of a selected group, said last aforesaid means to control the position of an indication upon said card.

4. A system of the character described comprising a central station and substations, a plurality of operators sets at said central station, means controlled from each substation for establishing intercommunication between said substation and an idle operators position, a card receiver at the various substations, means controlled at the central station and the coiipe-rating substation to place an indication upon a card inserted in said receiver, and automatic means controlled at the central station to select for intercommunication any desired substation, said last aforesaid means having comprising a central'station and substations, a plurality of operators sets at said central station, automatic means controlled at each substation for establishing intercommunication between said substation, and an idle o perators setfa card receiver at each substation, means under the control of each of the said operators sets at the central station and the cooperating substation to place an indication upon said card placed in said card receiver, and means associated with each operators set to select for intercommunieation any desired substation and control the position of an indication upon the said card.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 1st day of December, A. D.

MORTON L. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

HAZEL A. JONES, Or'ro M. WERMICH. 

